Cognitive Neuroscience--Combined Ph.D. Triple Major:
Neuroscience+Cognitive Science + Home Dept. This document reflects requirements from the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Programs
Total number of units = 28-34
1. Core (11-14 units):
• Survey and Integration of Neuroscience I (NRSC 5100; 2 credit hours for
advanced students; 5 credit hours for students without advanced preparation)
• Survey and Integration of Neuroscience II (NRSC 5110; 3 credit hours)
• Issues and Methods (listed in multiple departments; 2 credit hours)
• Cognitive Science Practicum (listed in multiple departments; 2 credit hours—
equivalent practicum in home dept. may substitute)
• Cognitive Science Topics (2 credits hours) (This class comes in a 1 unit version
(attend Institute talks) or a 2 unit version (Attend Institute talks plus meet to
discuss those presentations). Thus, one must either take it for 1 semester for 2
units or 2 semesters for 1 unit.
2. Depth Courses (6-9 units)
Pick from table below
3. Related Discipline Specialization (11+ units)
Pick from table below (currently may not be a complete list—check with Advisor)
Department of Computer Science,
College of Engineering
CSCI 5622-3 Neural Networks / Machine Learning
CSCI 6622-3 Advanced Neural Networks /
Machine Learning
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, College of
Engineering and Applied Science
ECEN 5811-3 Neural Signals ECEN 5831-3 Brains, Minds and Computers
Department of Psychology, College
of Arts and Sciences
PSYC 5032-3 Neurobiology of Learning and
Memory
PSYC 5052-4 Behavioral Neuroscience (overlaps with NRSC 5100,
depending on Instructor)
PSYC 5072 Clinical Neuroscience
PSYC 5082 (2 or 3 units depending on the specific offering)
Seminar: Special Topics in Biopsychology; can be taken
multiple times
PSY 5092-3 Hormones and Behavior
PSYC 5102-3 Advanced Behavioral Genetics PSYC 5112-3 Concepts - Behavior Genetics
PSYC 5132-3 Behavioral Neuropharmacology
PSYC 5162-3 Developmental Behavioral
Genetics PSYC 5175-4 Computational Cognitive
Neuroscience
PSYC 5212-3 Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary
Perspective
PSYC 5232-3 Molecular Genetics/Behavior PSYC 5262-3 Mammalian Neuroanatomy
PSYC 5272-3 Neuronal Plasticity
PSYC 5385-3 Ethology/Comparative
Psychology PSYC 5665-2 Prosem: Higher-level perception
& attention
PSYC 5665-2 Prosem: Learning and memory
PSYC 5685-2 Prosem: Sensory Processes PSYC 5685-2 Prosem: Research Methods
PSYC 5741: Quantitative Methods in
Neuroscience
PSYC 5815-2 Prosem: Language
PSYC 5815-2 Prosem: Higher-level cognition PSYC 6911-1-3 Research Practicum
PSYC 7536-3 Theories and Research in
Emotion
PSYC 7536-3 The Social Brain
Department of Speech, Language
and Hearing Sciences, College of
Arts and Sciences
SLHS 5252-3 Acquired Adult Language
Disorders
SLHS 5282-3 Acquired Cognitive Disorders
SLHS 5292-3 Motor Speech Disorders
SLHS 5576-2 Communication Neuroscience
SLHS 6006-3 Advanced Hearing Science SLHS 6564-3 Auditory Processes:
Neurodiagnostics
SLHS 7100-3 Cognitive Bases of Human
Communication and its Disorders
SLHS 7250-3 Research Methods in Language
Development (same as Ling
7250) SLHS 7540-3 Auditory Processes: Physiology,
Assessment, and Management
of the Vestibular System
SLHS 8206-3 Models of Speech Production and Perception
Credit Hour Requirements
A total of 28-34 hours of graduate level courses from the list of Core, Depth, and Breadth
courses (see above) are required for the Combined Neuroscience Cognitive Science +
Core Discipline PhD. More courses may be required if the student pursues topics outside
of the cognitive neuroscience track, taking other courses listed in the approved course
listings for the Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or Core Discipline degrees that do not
appear above. Of these 28-34 hours, 11 or 14 hours consist of Core breadth and
integration courses for Cognitive Neuroscientists, 6-9 hours consist of Cognitive
Neuroscience depth courses, and the remainder are derived from Cognitive
Neuroscience-related discipline specialization courses.
Comprehensive Examination
In accordance with the graduate school requirements, students will be required to take a
comprehensive exam, which they must pass in order to advance to doctoral candidacy
status. Successful completion (grade of B- or better) of the Survey and Integration of
Neuroscience I and II courses will fulfill the Neuroscience component of the
comprehensive exam. In addition, the student must pass a comprehensive exam in their
area of specialization. The format of this specialty comprehensive exam will be
determined by the student's advisor and will be appropriate for the advisor's
department/program of affiliation, but must also be interdisciplinary in nature to fulfill
the Cognitive Science component of the comprehensive exam.
Thesis
All Cognitive Neuroscience PhD students will be required to complete a doctoral thesis
with a primary Cognitive Neuroscience focus. The thesis/dissertation will represent
original state-of-the art research of quality suitable for publication in a reputable
scientific journal. The student's thesis advisor must be a participating faculty member of
the Cognitive Neuroscience faculty. In addition, the student's thesis committee must
include at least 1 additional Neuroscience faculty member and one Cognitive Science
faculty member from outside the student's area of specialization. In accordance with the
requirements of the Graduate School, the student's committee must be comprised of a
minimum of 5 faculty members that have graduate faculty appointments. The committee
will be formed by the student's advisor, upon approval of the slate of members by the
Academic Directors of the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science combined PhD
Programs.